Opal Lake

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Opal Lake
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Opal Lake
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Opal Lake
Location King County, Washington, United States
Coordinates 47°34′30″N121°15′06″W / 47.5750838°N 121.2517503°W / 47.5750838; -121.2517503
Basin  countriesUnited States
Surface area1 acre (0.0040 km2) [1]
Surface elevation4,790 ft (1,460 m) [2]

Opal Lake, also known as Necklace Valley Lake 3, is a freshwater lake located on the western region of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, in King County, Washington. The lake is connected by stream to Emerald Lake and Jade Lake, which form together the Neckelace Valley Lakes. Opal Lake and its surrounding lakes and peaks are a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing Rainbow trout. [1] Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area. [3]

Contents

History

Opal Lake is one of the Necklace Valley Lakes, which includes nearby Jade Lake and Emerald Lake. The lakes form a topographic sequence that reminds of a necklace, hence the name makes reference to a necklace strung with streams in between. [4] The Necklace Valley was the site of mining, camping sites on Opal Lake and surrounding sites still contain mining instruments and remnants of mining activity. [3]

Location

Access to Opal Lake and other Necklace Valley Lakes is through Necklace Valley Trail #1062. [3] The trailhead is approximately 4.5 miles into Forest Road 68, east of the Skykomish Ranger Station. The trail mostly follows the East Fork Foss River until it reaches the granite slopes of Necklace Valley. The trail is approximately 9 miles until it ends in Opal Lake by interruption from massive shattered granite boulders, calved off the sheer granite cliffs at the base of the valley. In between the granite cliffs, each lake connects to the next by small meadows where camping sites are located. [5]

See also

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Josephine Lake is a natural lake and reservoir near Stevens Pass in Chelan County, Washington, United States. At the south skirt of Big Chief Mountain, Josephine Lake is the source of the Icicle Creek. Because Josephine Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout.

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Lake Iiswoot is a freshwater lake located on the western region of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, in King County, Washington. It is located on the eastern slope of Necklace Valley. Lake Iiswoot and its surrounding lakes and peaks is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

Otter Lake is a freshwater lake located on the western slope of Otter Point northwest of Maple Valley in King County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Big Snow Mountain area. Other prominent lakes are west of Otter Lake, including Angeline Lake, Azurite Lake and Big Heart Lake, while Opal Lake and other Necklace Valley lakes are on the eastern slope of Otter Point. Because Otter Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing.

Azurite Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, between Otter Lake and Angeline Lake in King County, Washington. A short distance south towards Iron Cap Mountain is Azure Lake and Iron Cap Lake. The south shore of the lake rests on a prominent granite ledge up towards a hillock and steep heathland that lead to Iron Cap Mountain. The North shore of the lake is bound by the steep slopes of Saint Agnes Ridge which continue on the eastern slopes of Angeline Lake. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron Cap Lake</span> Lake in Washington, United States

Iron Cap Lake is a small freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, at the south ridge of Azurite Lake and other Necklace Valley lakes in King County, Washington. The lake is nestled on the north skirt of Iron Cap Mountain and produces the West Fork of the Foss River towards Bonnie Lake and contributions from Otter Lake. A short distance towards the West are Crawford Lake and Chetwoot Lake. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

Crawford Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, at the western ridge of Iron Cap Mountain in King County, Washington. The lake is nestled on a set of prominent valleys and peaks and produces Crawford Creek which flows as one of many tributaries of the Middle Fork Foss River. A short distance towards the north are Chetwoot Lake, Angeline Lake and the Necklace Valley Lakes. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Necklace Valley area.

Delta Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, north of the Necklace Valley lakes in King County, Washington. Because Delta lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout. Delta Lake is a consequence of the spill of the outlets of three major Alpine Lakes: Otter Lake, Big Heart Lake, and Angeline Lake. The West Fork of the Foss River exits Delta Lake in two outlets which merge into one stream shortly above the top of Upper Foss River Falls.

Myrtle Lake is a freshwater lake located on the northern slope of Big Snow Mountain between Snoqualmie Lake and Chetwoot Lake, in King County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Big Snow Mountain area. Because Myrtle Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout and coastal cutthroat trout.

References

  1. 1 2 "Opal Lake". Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife . Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Necklace Valley Trail 1062". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  3. Barnes, Jeremy and Nathan (2019). Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. Mountaineers Books. ISBN   1680510789.
  4. "Necklace Valley, Alpine Lakes Wilderness". Backpacker. Retrieved 14 April 2021.